Menehune Road in Waimea reopens

WAIMEA — Menehune Road, at the site of a rockfall earlier this month, has reopened, according to officials Tuesday.

Temporary road closures may still be necessary for the next few weeks, officials cautioned, as additional work on the slope is needed.

Earlier this week, contractor HiTech raked the remainder of scaling debris off the mid and lower slope and removed smaller rocks that fell into the Menehune Ditch, according to officials. Tuesday, the team began to demobilize.

As HiTech demobilizes, county officials will further inspect the condition of Menehune Road and begin repairing damages to the pavement caused by the Jan. 4 rockslide that cut off several families due to the impassable road.

Damage caused to the riverside embankment will also be assessed to determine measures needed for repairs.

Upcoming work on the slope includes the installation of erosion-control measures, which will be conducted by Geolabs — the county’s contracted geotechnical engineering firm — along with HiTech. This work is currently scheduled for early next week, and will require a full closure of Menehune Road for at least one day. More details on this road closure will be announced in the coming days.

“The county made tremendous progress in the stabilization of the rockslide,” Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Luke Meyers said Tuesday. “The community was tested and proved to be invaluably resilient.”

Intermittent road closures of Menehune Road will be necessary for future work, including road and bridge repairs. With the road reopened, crews will begin an assessment of damage made to the historic Waimea swinging bridge.

Officials will continue to work with Makaweli residents on continued needs. Makaweli residents requiring assistance are urged to contact the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency at 808-241-1800.